Johanna Konta: Abuse at Fed Cup tie will take take to get over

Johanna Konta admitted the abuse she received at the Fed Cup tie in Romania will take time to get over as Great Britain slipped to defeat.

Konta gave full credit to Simona Halep, whose 6-1 6-3 victory over the British number one set the stage for a day of home celebration at Tenis Club IDU in Constanta.

That left the visitors needing to win both the remaining rubbers but Romania completed the job in the next match when Irina-Camelia Begu defeated Heather Watson 6-4 7-5.

Konta had been left shaken after being verbally abused first by Romanian captain Ilie Nastase and then the crowd during her clash with Sorana Cirstea on Saturday.

Nastase was banned from the premises for the rest of the tie and a charged atmosphere was expected when Konta faced Halep, playing in her home city for the first time since her junior days.

After winning the first three points, Konta lost 10 in a row and, aside from a spell at the start of the second set, was unable to sustain any momentum.

The British number one said: "I think it's really important for me to separate what happened yesterday and the tennis match today. I think Simona played well and came out and played a lot freer than I was expecting.

"There's obviously an effect that yesterday had on me. However, it has to be about the tennis and I gave my best today with what I had.

"I think it'll be something I'll do my best to overcome and to just understand. It's not something I've ever experienced before and I hope never to experience it again.

"I felt the crowd today were a lot fairer and I felt they supported Simona well."